Draft key retainer adapter



Aug. 5, 1952 $M|TH 2,605,g08

DRAFT KEY RETAINER ADAPTER Filed June 22, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l INI 'ENTOR.

Aug. 5, 1952 E. P. SMITH 'DRAFT KEY RETAINER ADAPTER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 22, 1950 INVEN TOR. $0]? 52221 2% ia zuarc/ Fatented Aug. 5, 19 52 it,

lTE f Edward' Payson Smith, Winnetka,glll;, assignor to My improved adaptor is more especially designed for use with an AmericanAssociation of Railroads alternate 'standard draft key retainer;

known as a fixed u or hairpin type, and is -designed to; overcome the weaknesses and difficulties encountered'withthis' 'type ofr'etainer.

The draft key retainer' as heretofore employed consisted 'of around bar formed into a U-shape with a'straight intermediate horizontal portion terminating at the ends in vertical legsand forminga square U, with a small radius at'the junctures between the horizontal intermediate portion and the two vertical legs; with the horizontal por-' tion resting on the upper face of the key and the two vertical legs inserted or passing through two spaced holes in the draft key and the lower ends of the legs then bent laterally tohold the retainer in place. v

The inherent weakness in this design exists at the sharp bends between the legs and the horizontal portion, which frequently resulted in fractures at said points.

The present improved A. A. R. retainerv is designed to eliminate the sharp bends mentioned by providing a' retainer having a large radius and provided'with a round U-shaped bottom; while the leg receiving holes in the draft key have been countersunk to reduce the danger of fracture of the retainer. This change, however, introduced new points of wear on both the key and the retainer. While the former retainer was supported on the key by its horizontal portion, the later revised retainer is supported only at the two contact points of the semi-circular U-section of the retainer on the draft key, a condition which will cause excessive wear both on the key and the retainer.

My improved draft key adaptor for use with the rounded U-shaped retainer as hereinafter described is desig'ned to eliminate the wear at the last mentioned points.

My improved adaptor is also designed to greatly decrease breakage of the retainer in service by transmitting the strains or load to both legs of the retainer; while at the same time eliminating interference between the retainer and the rivets on the center sill and obviating the necessity of counter sinking the retainer receiving holes in the draft key.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of the draft Illinois Railway Equipment company, Chicago, a 111., a corporation of Illinois. 11 l Applicationd'une 2a iesase ar xj feasts i sfllaimsr (c1.21s;55.o sr

key .the' key retainer' 'and my improved adaptor applied.

Fi re 2 is an end elevation of the structure i asshownin'l igure '1"; l Figure 3 is a side View of the structure shown in Figure 12.

Figuren is aperspective view of myim proved adaptor.

My improved adaptor is more especiallyin-w tended for use with the American Association of I Railroads altered standard draft key retainer If) consisting of a bar of round cross-section and bent into U-shape with rounded bottom as shown at Ii in Figureiz, while the two legs l2, l2'extend through suitably spaced holes in the draft key, the tail end whereof is shown at i3, namely, the end which extends through andslightly beyond the center sill, of which a portion is shown in section at ItseeFiguresl and'3.

My improved adaptorlt, as more clearly'shown in Figure 4; is of U-shape or clevis-like form with both sides identical in form to permit either side to be used at'the'top and thus eliminate the possibility of improper application.

The radaptor is a one piece forging consisting of the two similar wide end portions It, 16; each provided with the spaced openings l1, adjacent opposite ends, which are adapted to register with the retainer receiving openings in the draft key 13. The two end or body portions I 6, H; are united by the narrower neck portion I8.

The body portions l6, l6 are each provided, intermediate the holes IT, with a vertically disposed lug or saddle portion I9, tapered somewhat toward the top which is slightly dished or arcuate from front to rear as shown at 20, see Figure 4. This lug l9, on theupper side of the adaptor constitutes a saddle or support for the intermediate arcuate portion l l of the retainer It, as more clearly seen in Figure 2. This support for the retainer eliminates the wear heretofore encoun- 16, [6 are each enlarged or'formed with an elongated boss 2| which extends substantially throughout the full length of the body portion; and this boss preferably is formed with a sloping or arcuate vertically disposed surface which faces and at times may contact the adjacent side of.

the car center sill, see Figure 3; it being'understood that the lower body portion I6 is similarly provided with an arcuate boss, thus making the adaptor reversible.

During car operation when the draft key is caused to move laterally with respect to the center sill, there is a possibility of interference between the draft key retainer and the rivets on the center sill which would result in undesirable strains on the retainer; and at times a large shearing force on one leg of the retainer is exerted, as when the car is going around- '3...'Cl;lI,V and the retainer; is forced againstrthelcenter sill.

With my improved adaptor and its horizontally extending boss at the forward center sill facing; edge, the retainer is prevented from contact with the center sill rivets; and with the forward bearing oppositely sloping or arcuatesurface. of R167" determined degree, the shearingforce will always: 1.5:;

be transmitted to both legs of the retainer.

In practice, the adaptor is first applied to the apertured tail end of the draft'key; as shown in Figure 3, with its holes l1, I! brought to:reg ister; with the holes in the draftgkey. The retainer l0 isthenapplied. by insertinglits ,two legs through. the holes I! in the adaptor-and those inthedraft; key andthecurved upper, end of the retainer. allowed to rest on the saddle ISJ Thelowenproe truding ends of the legs I 2, 1270f .the retainerlare then preferably bentlaterally as shown iILFigure. 2 to hold theflretainer, -,against accidental removal.

The exemplification shown and described isr. believed to bathe best embodimentof. my. invention, but structural modifications may: be possible. without,.li wever-, departingfrom the spiritofhmy invention ,asldefined. intheappended claims: 7

What Iicl'aim 1; Awdraftpkey. retainer adaptor comprising, in. combination with a. railroad. car, center sill, a draft key extending through the. center. sill and provided with openings, and. a key retainer dis-.- posed; through'nthewkey. openings; a .cleviselikeadaptor adapted to.-'endwisely. receiveythev apertured endof thedraft key,and provided .With two plate-like,portionsflapertured [to register with the. draft key; openings for... passage, of. the key re: tainel therethfrou h,l.theeouteni surfaces. of theplate-like portions,, intermediate. the. apertures being. providedwithi. raisediretainer. suppgnting portions.

2. A draft key retainer adaptor comprising, in combination with a railroad car center sill, a draft key extending through the center sill with its tail end provided with a pair of spaced holes and an inverted U-shaped key retainer adapted to extend through the holes in the draft key; a clevis-like adaptor with a pair of similar platelike. portions adapted toj'endwiselygfit: onto the tail: end of the draft key andeach portionhaving a pair of holes arranged to register with the holes in:.the draft key and adapted to receive the legs ofutherkeyl retainer, the outer surfaces of said plate-like portions being provided intermediate theholesawith saddle portions for supporting the intermediateacuryedrportion of the key retainer.

' 3:- In:combination.:with a railroad car draft key I whosetail end .is provided with transversely spaced holes and a- U'-shaped retainer whose legs are,:adapted to fit into the draft key holes; a reversible adaptor of clevis-like form with similar plate-like; ends both laterally enlarged. and

arranged,;to, extend;flush .withmthev upper and lowerafacesof th'eldraft, key. having...spaced holes s adapted vtc ..re.gi ster ,with. the holesuin the. draft. key andrunited by. atneck portioneadapteditoi. extend about.. ther end. of. the; draft-, key both. of...

said( platealike endszintermediatee the holes. have ing y erticallyldisposed t apering. retainer support:

ing p ortions; disposedfizom. end to end; while. the; forward :edges .of said, plate-like ends, are pro:

vided:withrenlargedarcuate center sill contacting surfaces. to distribute tthelload .to both .legsof: the... retainer.-;

EDWARD ,PAYSON.

REEERENCESQCITEDi Therfollowing. referencesgarerof i recordiinrthez' file of this patent:

anzeort. 

